Shunter&#39;s hand-actuated air-brake valve.



R. F. COLBORNE.

SHUNTBRS HAND AGTUATED AIB BRAKE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1912. I

1,094,426. Patented Apr. 28, 1914.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET 1.

gli mm @i Il R. F. COLBORNB.

sHUNTER's HAND AGTUATBD AIR BRAKE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1912.

1,094,426. K PatentedApr..28,1911

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f j F El '11. F. GOLBORNE.

SHUNTERS HAND AGTUATED AIR BRAKE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1912.

Patented Apr. 28, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"narran sTaTiis rarnNT caricia ROBERT FRANCIS COLBORNE, 0F STRATHFIELD, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

SHUNTERS HAND-ACTUATED AIR-BRAKE VALVE.

noaa-ias.

To all whom t may concern le it known that I, ROBERT FRANCIS CoL- nonxn, a citizen of the Commonwealth of australia, residing` at Redmyre Road, Strathtield, near Sydney, in the State of New South lVales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a new and useful Shunters Hand-Actuated Air-Brake Valve, of which the following is a specitication.

rlhis invention is designed for the purpose ot providing a valve attachmentto the, Westinghouse triple valve, either of the quick act-ing or ordinary type, at present inuse for controlling the movement vot railway and tramway brakes, which will enable the shunter to apply the brakes from either side of a railway vehicle while the same is moving, by operating an attachment thereon.

The invention is alike serviceable in cases where single or double cylinders inclosing springs which put ott the brake are used, and cylinders where the springs are dispensed with and the air used for putting oft the brake, the former being the kind set out in this specitication.

The valve attachment is intended to dispense with the existing cover with its spring-seated separate graduating stem and graduating stem guide, which are placed adjacent to the main piston of a Westinghouse triple valve, and provide only for the ingress of the compressed air to said piston from the main pipe. The substituted valve attachment has a casing or cover divided into three compartments. The one contains a disk valve for opening and shutting the ports leading to the other compartments which are in communication through the medium of a double stop cock with the usual brake cylinder and reservoir. The port connecting with the cylinder, when uncovered, allows for the application of the brake, and the port connecting with the reservoir, when uncovered, allows for the release of the brake, both movements being obtained consecutively by the action of the shunter. rthe rotary action of the disk valve is governed by the movement of a spring controlled spindle lever, and t-he graduating stem tor operating the main piston of the triple valve, in order to restore it to its normal position, is arranged to be set in motion by a chamber lever attached to and rotating with the disk valve, the necessary .movements being made by the shunter.

Specication of Letters atent.

Application filed July 31, 1912.

Patented Apr. 28, QME.

Serial No. 712,386.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification: Figure l is a vertical central sectional elevation of the compartment or chamber containing the disk valve with its chamber lever, for operating the graduating stem which is attached to the main piston of the TWestinghouse triple valve. The disk valve, chamber lever, graduating stem, and spring controlled spindle lever are shown in their normal positions when the main piston is seated. The ports which connect with the cylinder and the reservoir, which are shown dotted, are covered by the disk valve. The double stop cock is shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. l, withcover in position on disk valve and graduating stem compartment. 3 is a vertical sectional elevation on line o o of Figs. l and 2, showing the three compartments, also spring controlled spindle lever and double stop cock in elevation. Fig. l is an elevation showing reverse side to Figs. l and 2, with spring controlled lever in yits normal position as retained by coiled spring, also limitation stops for same. Figs. 5, G, and 7 are vertical, central, sectional elevations of disk valve compartment as in Fig. l, but showing the rotary disk valve in three working positions, namely, (5) with valve set to partially uncover port to cylinder to obtain slight application of the brake, (6) with valve set to wholly uncover port to cylinder to obtain full application of the brake, (7) with valve set covering port to cylinder and wholly un covering port to reservoir to release the brake. The chamber lever, being at end of stroke, has returned graduating stem and main piston to normal position. In Figs. 5 and 6 the dotted lines indicate movement of graduating stem. Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional elevation on line ZJ-b of Fig. 3, showing compartments which connect with double stop cock, also ports leading from disk valve compartment, the valve chamber being shown in elevation. Fig. 9 is a detail of the double stop cock in open position, shown partly in central, vertical, sectional elevation, but with cylinder and reservoir pipe connections and double chamber shown in elevation. Fig. 10 is a central, vertical, sectional elevation on line o-o of Fig. 9, with cock open. Fig. l1 is a horizontal section on line cZ-CZ of Fig. 9, with cock in cut out posit-ion. Fig. 12 is a plan showing the general arrangementot the invent-ion as applied to a YWestinghouse triple valve, with the connections to brake cylinder and air pressure reservoir, with pressure gage added to reservoir, also brake actuating levers, main train pipe, branch pipe, and shunters hand actuating appliance. Fig. 1S is a side elevation ot Fig. 12. Fig. let is a vertical, sectional elevation, enlarged, showing valve attaclnnent titted to `Westinghouse triple valve. with graduating stem attached to the .main piston. A fragmentary part of the reservoir and internal tube is also shown. Fig. 15 is a vertical, sectional elevation showing the parts displaced by this invention, consisting otl the existing cover wit-h its spring-seated separate graduating stem and graduating st-em guide, and thrust pin attached to main piston.

In order to apply this invention, the casing A, stem B, guide C, and thrust pin D which has previously formed part ot the main piston E (Fig. 15), are dispensed with, and in place thereof I substitute the peculiarly constructed casing A1, the graduating stem 'Bl centrally ttached to the piston E, and, the internal guide C1, as in Fig. let. The casing A1, which is the valve compartment, is bolted to the body part F ot the triple valve, and is provided with the inlet passage A2 which is in communication with the union G through the medium of the usual cock II. rilhe casing A1 is pierced with the radial ports I and J leading respectively to compartments K and L which-are in communication, through the medium of passages 1 and 2 in the double stop cock M, and pipes M1 and M2, with brake cylinder N and auxiliary reservoir O. The radial ports I and J are opened and shut by the disk valve I), to which is attached the chamber lever P2 used for operating the graduating stem B1. rIhis chamber A1 is provided with the access cover A3, secured with transverse bolts A4. The valve stem P1 is provided with the actuating lever Q secured to its outer end. The coiled spring Q1 keeps the valve P against its seat by its outward pressure against the collar R. The extension ends Q2 and Q3 are carried down to either side of the radial stop K1, which is used to retain one of the prolongations while the other moves as the lever is operated. In Figs. 1, Q, 3, et, and 13, lever Q is shown in its normal position when ports I and J are closed as in Fig. 1 In Fig. 13 the said lever Q, is shown attached to the connecting rod S operated by shaft lever S1 secured to the transverse spindle 'I supported in bearings on both sides of the vehicle and having on its extremities rope levers To complete the operating connections, similar' levers U1, attached to short spindles T1, are also placed on each side of the vehicle. The ropes V are fastened to their extremities,

and are provided with operating handles V1 for the shunters use.

In Fig. 12, the floating brake lever IV, attached to the usual cross head N1, and the anchored lever Wn, are shown merely as part ot' the usual brake system.

The main air pipe X and branch pipe X1, connecting with the union G through the medium of the usual cock I-I, are the usual means employed for feeding the air through passages A2 and F1 past the piston E to the reservoir O, providing the valve P is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, which is the position of rest to which the actuating spring Q1 always brings it by the action ot' the extension ends Q2, when the shunter releases his hold on the actuating handle V1.

The various positions to be occupied by the valve P when operated by the shunter either to apply or to put olf the brake, are indicated in Figs. 5, G, and 7. Fig. 1, being the normal position, ports I and ,I are both closed. In making a slight application of the brake, levers U and Ill would be moved suiliciently to bring' actuating lever Q, to the mid position shown in Fig. 5, when port. I would be partially opened. The changed position ot the graduating stem is shown by dotted lines, To make a full application of the brake, further pressure on levers U and U1 would bring lever Q, to the position shown in Fig. 6, giving a full opening of port I, the stem being moved to the posit-ion indicated by dotted lines. During these two operations the air will be passing into compartment K through the lower passage 1 in stop cock M and by pipe M1 to brake cylinder N, causing a slight reduction ot' pressure in the main train pipe X, similar to that made when the vehicles are coupled together and the driver has to apply the brakes from thc engine. In continuing the pressure on levers U and U1, the extension end Q2 of spring Q1 would be brought against limitation stop Q4, thus indicating to the shunter the necessity for exert-ing further pressure until the end of lever Q is brought into contact with limitation stop Q5, insuring a greater rebound of spring Q2, which, upon release of the shunters handle, would carry lever Q back to the normal position indicated in Figs. 1 and et, the extension end Q3, which is seated against the radial stop K1 (shown dotted in Fig. et) and causes the spring Q1 to be compressed when the lever Q is moved toward its limiting stops thereby, oitering the necessary resistance for the coiled spring l to cause the leverl Q to rebound. In this operation, the graduating stem B1 travels with the piston E, and will occupy a position as shown dotted in Fig. (l. The brakes would remain on until the shunter actuates the levers U and U1 in the contrary direction, thus carrying lever Q up against the stop Q6, whereby valve P is rotated so as to uncover port J, and chamber lever P2 is brought in contact with the graduating stem B1, which forces piston E back to its release position, as in Figs. 7 and ls'f, the air passing from reservoir G through pipe M2 and port J into compartment casing A1, thereby equalizing the pressure on both sides of the piston.

It is to be understood that the air supply needed to apply the brakes in the shunting of detached vehicles to which this invention has been litted, is to be obtained from the residue remaining in the auxiliary reservoir (l, and a pressure Y is attached thereto tor the shunters inspection. The direction taken by the air is indicated by the arrows at pipes M2 and M1, Figs. 12 and 18.

rlhe double stop cock M is provided as a safeguard to cut out the Yalve attachment in the event of mishap o-r failure. ln Fig. ll it is shown in the out out position, and when so adjusted, will allow of the triple valve acting in the ordinary way, the graduating stemV B1 moving freely to and fro with the main piston E because the chamber lever P2 is normally :tree from Contact with it, as indicated in Fig. l. The compressed air would then be admitted by branch pipe X1 through cock H and by passages A2 and F1 to piston E, and thence to other parts of the triple valve in the ordinary way. As long as the disk valve P remains in the position shown in Fig. l, the mechanism ot the triple valve is always available to be operated by the driver from the engine.

The graduating spring B3, conlined between the guide C and collar B2 fastened to graduating stem, is similar to the means pro vided in the lVestinghouse triple valve for re-seating stem B, but in this invention, the stem, being attached to the piston, will always move with it, and not be operated intermittently as is the case with the Testinghouse stem (cada F ig. l5).

In Fig. ltthe principal parts of the Westinghouse quick acting triple valve, namely, main piston E, body part F, bottom part 3, piston stem a, slide valve 5, ports 6 and 7 in body part, center piece S, secondary piston 9, central valve and stem 10, check valve ll, cock handle l2, and union nipple G, are shown, together with a fragment of the auxiliary reservoir O which is in direct co-mmunication with the rear side of piston E through the opening O1. rlhe pipe O is also shown attached to the chamber ot the secondary piston t). lt is through this pipe that the air is conveyed to the brake cylinder N in the lWestinghouse system, butl in this invention the air is applied to cylinder N by pipe M1, with the result that levers l and 71 are brought into action independently of the connecting pipe O2. The said reservoir is supplied with air pressure ot about seventy lbs. per square inch,

which is fed into it when the piston E is in the position shown, through the grooves 13 and la.

Having now described my invention, what l consider new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A shunters hand operated air brake valve attachment, comprising a valve compartment. an air inlet passage forming part oit the said compartment and communicating therewith and to the main piston, a graduating stem guide forming part of the compartment, upper and lower radial ports communicating from the valve compartment to adjacent compartments separated from each other and forming part ot the valve compartment and communicating respectively with the auxiliary reservoir and the brake cylinder, a rotary disk valve adapted to cover the. said radial ports, a valve stein forming part of the disk valve located horizontally in the division between the compartments, an actuating lever attached to the outer end of the valve stem, a coiled spring located on the valve stem between the double chambers and the seating collar adjacent to the actuating lever, extension ends forming part of the coiled spring and arranged on either side of a. radial stop, a radial stop, a limitation spring stop atlixed externally to the double chambered part of the casing, a. limitation stop to control the movement of the actuating lever when putting on the brake, a limitation stop to control the movement of the actuating lever when putting olf the brake. a chamber lever forming part of the aforesaid disk valve disposed upon the outer face of the valve to be in line centrally with the graduating stem of the main piston which is operated by it, and, a valve compartment removable cover secured thereto by transverse casing bolts, as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination with a quick acting triple valve, auxiliary air cylinder and brake cylinder, ot a shunters hand operated valve attachment comprising a valve casing having` an air inlet passage leading thereto, and being in communication with said triple valve, a pair oit' separate compartments formed within said valve casing each provided with a radial port, a disk valve for opening and closing communication through said radial. ports to the interior of said valve casing and means for operating the same, passages leading from saidY compartments respectively to the auxiliary reservoir and to the brake cylinder, and a common controlling means Jfor opening and closing both of said passages, and means carried by said disk valve adapted to operate the graduating stem of the triple valve piston, substanof quick acting brake apparatus having a' graduating stem axially attached to said piston and moving therewith, auxiliary air cyl` inder and brake cylinder, of a shunters hand operated valve attachment comprisinga valve casing surrounding said graduating` stem and in connnunication With the main valve, an air inlet for said valve casing, a pair of separate compartments formed within said valve casing` and having radial ports comn'iunicating with the interior of said casing, a ldisk valve for opening and closing said ports, means for opera-ting` said disk valve, and means carried by said disk valve for operating said graduating stem, passages from said compartments to the auxiliary reservoir and brake cylinder respectively, and a common stop-cock for opening and closing said passages simultaneously, substantially as described.

4. In a shunters hand operated air brake valve attachment the combination, with the spring controlled actuating lever of a triple chambered valve attachmente of the connecting rod attached thereto, the sha'ttand connecting rod lever, the transverse spindle extending to both sides of the vehicle, rope levers aiiixcd to the extremities of the transverse spindle, similar rope levers attached to short spindles on both sides of the vehicle, connecting` ropes extending from lever to lever, and-operating handles aliixed to the ropes, as described and shown, and for the purposes set forth.

1n testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT FRANCIS COLBORNE.

'Vitnesses JOHN J. STONE7 HARRY A. SMEDLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

